# US 2019/0168561 A1 · Suspension systems using hydraulic dampers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168561 A1 - Document ID: US20190168561A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/829,845 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Divergent Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Divergent Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: John Russell BUCKNELL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168561A1 ## CPC - B60G 17/0162: {mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking (B60G17/0164 takes precedence)} - B60G 5/04: with two or more pivoted arms, the movements of which are resiliently interrelated {, e.g. the arms being rigid} - B60G 11/265: {hydraulic springs} - B60G 11/44: and also torsion-bar springs - B60G 13/08: hydraulic - B60G 17/0165: to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind - B60G 21/005: {transversally} - B60G 21/05: between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected - B60G 21/067: between wheels on different axles on the same side of the vehicle, i.e. the left or the right side - B60G 2202/11: Leaf spring - B60G 2202/24: Fluid damper - B60G 2300/124: Quads - B60G 2300/45: Rolling frame vehicles - B60G 2300/50: Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles - B60G 2500/11: Damping valves - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A dual-mode suspension system using hydraulic dampers is disclosed. One or more dampers on each side of the four-wheel suspension system are coupled to a respective damper on the other side via a damper valve. One or more leaf springs may be arranged between the leading links coupled to some of the dampers, and trailing links coupled to other of the dampers. The suspension system may advantageously engage, lock, or partially disengage the respective dampers connected by the valve on each side of the system. Manipulating the valve to control engagement of the dampers, which may depend on the speed and related issues, provides control over whether heave motions should be separated from roll. In another embodiment, one or more single or double acting hydraulic cylinders may be used to engage dampers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A quadricycle suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: a first damper arranged on a first side of the suspension system; and a second damper arranged on a second side of the suspension system, wherein the first damper is coupled to the second damper via at least one interconnect, each at least one interconnect comprising a valve configured to control the motion of the first damper relative to the second damper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the valve corresponding to each at least one interconnect is further configured to at least partially disengage the first and second dampers in response to control system commands. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the control system commands comprise at least one of vehicle speed and vehicle lateral acceleration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first and second dampers are coupled to leading links respectively located on the first and second sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The suspension system of claim 4, further comprising: a third damper arranged on the first side; and a fourth damper arranged on the second side, wherein the third damper is coupled to the fourth damper via at least one second interconnect, each at least one second interconnect comprising a valve configured to control the motion of the third damper relative to the fourth damper. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The suspension system of claim 5, wherein the valve corresponding to each at least one second interconnect is further configured to at least partially disengage the third and fourth dampers in response to control system commands. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The suspension system of claim 6, wherein the control system commands comprise at least one of vehicle speed and vehicle lateral acceleration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The suspension system of claim 5, wherein the third and fourth dampers are coupled to trailing links respectively located on the first and second sides. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The suspension system of claim 3, wherein the first damper is coupled to the second damper via a first leaf spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The suspension system of claim 4, wherein the first leaf spring is coupled between the leading links. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The suspension system of claim 6, wherein the third damper is coupled to the fourth damper via a second leaf spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The suspension system of claim 10, wherein the second leaf spring is coupled between the trailing links. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The suspension system of claim 9, wherein the first leaf spring further comprises a torsion centering spring arranged concentric with a pivot of the first leaf spring, the torsion centering spring configured to decouple heave loads from roll loads. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The suspension system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the leading links or the trailing links comprise a girder suspension. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the first and second dampers comprise double-acting hydraulic cylinders performing compression and rebound connection functions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a dynamic leaning narrow track vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The suspension system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a non-tilting wide track vehicle. ### Claim 18 A quadricycle suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: a first damper coupled respectively to first trailing and leading links; a second damper coupled respectively to second trailing and leading links; a first active valve coupled to first inlet compression and rebound ports of the first damper; and a second active valve coupled to second inlet compression and rebound ports of the second damper, wherein the first and second active valves are configured to damp heave and pitch of the vehicle by controlling relative motion of the first and second dampers based on an at least one input. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The suspension system of claim 18, further comprising a control system having one or more outputs coupled to the at least one input, the control system configured to provide an output for controlling a state of the first and second active valves. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The suspension system of claim 18, wherein: a compression port of the first damper is further coupled via a third active valve to a rebound port of the second damper; a rebound port of the first damper is further coupled via a fourth active valve to a compression port of the first damper; and the third and fourth active valves are configured to damp roll in response to at least one input. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The suspension system of claim 20, further comprising a control system having one or more outputs coupled to the at least one input, the control system configured to provide an out for controlling a state of the third and fourth active valves. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The suspension system of claim 18, wherein the first damper is further coupled to the second damper via a leaf spring. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The suspension system of claim 22, wherein the leaf spring is coupled between leading links, one of the leading links coupled to the first damper and another of the leading links coupled to the second damper. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The suspension system of claim 23, wherein the leaf spring further comprises a torsion centering spring arranged concentric with a pivot of the leaf spring, the torsion centering spring configured to enable passive decoupling of heave loads from roll loads. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The suspension system of claim 20, further comprising: a third damper adjacent the first damper and coupled to a fourth damper adjacent the second damper; and a plurality of active valves associated, at least in part, with the third damper and the fourth damper, wherein the plurality of valves are configured to control the associated dampers based on information from a controller. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The suspension system of claim 25, wherein the third damper is further coupled to the fourth damper via another leaf spring. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The suspension system of claim 18, wherein the leading links comprise a girder suspension. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The suspension system of claim 18, wherein the trailing links comprise a girder suspension or a swing arm suspension.